A Message from the President

Membership is an excellent way to support the Winnakee mission and deepen your relationship with the work we do. As a member, you will enjoy member-only events, discounts on programs, and information through emails and newsletters to keep you up-to-date on everything Winnakee. We value our members and supporters and would love to welcome you to our membership family! Visit winnakee.org to learn more and join us today!

Get Connected, Stay Involved: Become a Member!

NewsletterSummer 20 1 8

Fun at Burger Hill

Dear Friend of Winnakee,

Summer is finally here! After a challenging Hudson Valley winter we encourage you to enjoy the relaxing, recreational and inspirational opportunities that summer has to offer in our Hudson Valley communities.

Winnakee continues to play a key role in preserving, protecting, and improving the resilience of our region. Our mission embodies our firm and unyielding commitment to protect our valuable watersheds, forests, and open spaces, as well as our working farms and historical legacy for future generations to enjoy. Winnakee remains actively engaged with our municipal partners in developing new multi-use trail segments, which connect people to our community centers and to our recreational opportunities.

The strategic planning sessions last fall helped us define our broader role in the communities of northern Dutchess County with a focus on you—our community members. With this in mind, we have developed a new logo in collaboration with Drake Creative. The new logo, with its cheerful colors and unique look, conveys our commitment to preserving land, habitats, open spaces, and community parks and trails. We continually strive to better connect with you and all members of our community and hope that our new look and broader mission and vision will support us in these endeavors.

So far, 2018 has been a very busy year for Winnakee. Thanks to Sally Mazzarella, Ellen Henneberry, and our hard working Gala Committee, our "Enchanted Evening” Gala at Blithewood was a financial success and was lauded by many of our supporters as our best ever.

We have started planning for this fall’s Barn Tour, another signature Winnakee event which receives rave reviews from all who participate. Our Burger Hill Full Moon Hikes, are proving increasingly popular, as well. Don’t miss the next one on Friday, July 27 with popular local musician Austin Bonk!

Winnakee is seeing significantly increased interest by landowners, who desire to place conservation and agricultural easements on their properties. With the support of our new Land Protection Manager, Warren Rosenthal, we expect to close on many new easements before year-end. We are also engaged in discussions with landowners interested in donating or selling their property to Winnakee.

Winnakee is fortunate to have experienced staff in place to manage each opportunity to its successful conclusion. With 2500 acres of property under conservation easements, we now have the potential to add 1500 acres of easement and fee purchase properties to our evergrowing portfolio.

All of this could not be done without your continued visionary support. Thank you so much and enjoy your summer!

Regards,

Carl MeyerBoard President

Carl E. MeyerBoard President

Winter Sun & Summer Moon have been long time supporters of Winnakee Land Trust because they believe the environment and agriculture are two vital assets of the Hudson Valley.

"We feel fortunate that there is an organization like Winnakee that works so hard to encourage people to connect to where they live and keep the Hudson Valley beautiful, natural, and protected from over-development," said Lila Pague. Winter Sun & Summer Moon, located in the heart of Rhinebeck, are celebrating 30 years in business and have

always believed that it is community that keeps businesses alive.

Winter Sun & Summer Moon are family businesses with Kenna, Steven, Lila Pague and Lorrie Kruger all working together.

Project Update: SawKill Land Aquisition by Gregg Swanzey, Executive Director

Donor Spotlight: The Pague Family, Owners of Winter Sun & Summer Moon

Red Hook has a long history of planning greenways and trails for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Trails concepts have continued to evolve and grow clearer as residents voice their needs and interests and the trail planning process progresses. Ultimately, a need for off-road walking/biking trail between the Village of Red Hook, Bard College, and Tivoli as been envisioned.

Winnakee Land Trust is always looking for ways to serve our mission of conserving land and connecting communities. To that end we have secured a significant land acquisition grant and will be submitting an application for additional funds to design and construct a 2.5 mile trail connecting the village of Red Hook to Bard College and the Empire State Trail.

Winnakee Land Trust has been awarded a $1.215 Million Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) grant enabling us to acquire 335 acres in the Town of Red Hook located just east of Route 9G and

adjacent to the Saw Kill.The Saw Kill Land Acquisition Project is aimed at protecting the Saw Kill water supply, establishing a nature preserve and trail network to be managed by Winnakee Land Trust, and much more!

Our next step will be to work with partners to create a trail for pedestrians and bicyclists along the Saw Kill that will serve to connect Bard College to the Village of Red Hook. The project will also provide the essential first phase for connection to the Empire State Trail as it enters Northern Dutchess County over the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge.

The project will include design, engineering and construction components that will result in a finished and cohesive trail network that will accommodate multi-modal non-motorized transportationalternatives that will serve bicyclers, walkers, and runners of all ages.

The opportunities are for a much improved connection between the College and the community with associated public health benefits, a safe biking route, and an attractive amenity for visitors. There is also an opportunity to engage community members in this project through a significant volunteer effort that will have the added effect of sustaining the trails through a volunteer corps going forward after the project is completed.

For more information on this project and how you can help, contact us at (845) 876-4213.

The Saw Kill

Winnakee Land Trust Annual Gala: An Enchanted Evening

Winnakee held its annual Gala on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Blithewood Manor Historic Garden located on the Bard College Campus. Over 200 guests attended the exquisite affair and raised over $100,000 for Winnakee Land Trust. Guests danced to the music of the Michael Dell Orchestra, dined on delicious foods from Blue Mountain Bistro, and enjoyed a signature blueberry lavender cocktail in the gardens.

Winnakee extends a heartfelt thanks to the Gala sponsors, Open Field Society members, Silent Auction donors, Gala committee members, and all of the guests for making the 2018 Gala a wonderful success.

“It was one of those events where you are having so much fun you don’t want it to end…

it was like a storybook!” Lizzy Bitterman

Gala committee members: Marybeth Cale, Danielle Relyea, Kristin Page,

Sharon Coughlan, and Dina Fennell

Teddy Chamorro, Braden Rhetts, Christian Mundigo, Dairo Chamorro,

Lisa Marrocchino, Herb Krackow, Monica and Philip Worthington

Cari and Philip Meltzer

Wike Family: Rose, Chay, Jane, and Mark

Patricia Panarella and Ruth Ketay Event Chair, Sally Mazzarella and Set Designer Richard Prouse

Many of you have woodlots that were logged in the past, some recently and some decades ago. But, how do you know if or when to cut? How do you find a qualified forester? What is the best plan for the health of the forest and the animals and plants that live there?

The best approach is to practice sustainable forestry: a management system that allows for the maintenance of continuous forest cover by selectively removing individual trees or small groups of trees to create a healthy forest that supports a large number of native plants and animals.

Some of you have inherited a well-managed forest, and others may have a forest that was high-graded: All the larger and/or more valuable trees were harvested at one time, leaving the poorest growing, lowest value growing tree stock for the future. Still others may have fallow farm land that is gradually converting to forest (this young growth supports certain song birds). Finally, some properties may be subject to severe browsing from deer or have an understory dominated by invasive plants. For these reasons and more, each plan will be custom tailored to your lands.

As an incentive to manage your forested lands sustainably, under New York’s 480a program, if you develop and implement a forest management plan on 50 or more contiguous acres over a ten-year period, you may receive a reduction in your tax assessment of up to 80%. If you are considering harvesting your trees, contact us to arrange a walk through of your property. Those who enroll in the 480a program and donate a conservation easement, can realize the maximum savings on their property taxes.

Sustainable Forestry by Warren Rosenthal, Land Protection Manager

Board of DirectorsCarl Meyer

PresidentSamuel P. Phelan

First Vice President & Treasurer

Sarah OlsonSecretary

Sally Mazzarella President Emeritus

Marybeth Cale Caroline Carey Andrew Cooley Kathleen Davis Charles R. Jacob

Michael Katz Lauren Kingman

John Lyons Angela J. Maier-Lore

Frank Margiotta Brian McFarlane David C. Smith

StaffGregg Swanzey

Executive DirectorEllen Henneberry

Director of DevelopmentWarren Rosenthal

Land Protection ManagerJohn Mickelson

Land Stewardship Manager

Sara Capozzoli Development & Marketing

Support

Winnakee Land Trust Post Office Box 610

Rhinebeck, NY 12572(845) 876-4213winnakee.org

Green Corner: Let's Talk Ticks

Smart preparation BEFORE you head outdoors and simple steps AFTER you come inside will help to prevent tick bites and tick born illnesses.

• Wear light-colored, full length pants and shirts • Tuck your pants into your socks • Treat your field clothes with Permethrin (good for

6-7 washings) • Use Picaridin insect spray on exposed skin and

clothes (good for up to 12 hours of protection • Put field clothes into the clothes dryer when you

get home (on high) for about 20 minutes • Take a shower.

Upcoming Events

Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September).

Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.

Full moon hikes, held at Drayton Grant Park at Burger Hill in Rhinebeck, offer spectacular, unobstructed views of the setting sun and the rising full moon. Admission to the moon hikes is always free for Winnakee Members, and Open Field Society Members. Non Member admission is $5 per person.

Music Under the Full Buck Moon - Friday, July 27, 7:30 PM - 9PMSturgeon Moon Hike - Sunday, August 26, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PMSunset Thanksgiving - Saturday, November 25

The Winnakee Nature Preserve is located just off Route 9 in Hyde Park, thePreserve consists of 105 acres with extensive and beautiful public hiking trails.

Nature Awareness Walk - Saturday, September 15 from 9 AM - 11AM. Guided by local naturalist, Steven Michael Pague. This event has been sponsored by

Save the Date! Tour of Historic Barns and Working Farms - Saturday, October 13

Held annually, this popular event invites guests on a self-guided tour to travel by car, motorcycle, or bicycle nd enjoy a unique and engaging perspective of several area historic barns and farms. Join us as we explore the culture, architecture, and history of our region!

For more information on Winnakee events, visit winnakee.org and follow Winnakee Land Trust on Facebook.